Chelsea's Ashley Cole feels obliged to help Jose Mourinho win either Champions League or Premier League

Ashley Cole has admitted that he feels a personal obligation to help Jose
Mourinho win either the Champions League or Premier League after not
delivering his best form for Chelsea during the manager's first spell at the
club.

Back together: Ashley Cole hopes to be even better under Jose Mourinho after the Portuguese manager returned to ChelseaPhoto: AFP

After finally joining Chelsea in 2006 following the infamous 'tapping-up' scandal the previous year, Cole was part of the Chelsea team that won both the League Cup and FA Cup but finished second to Manchester United in the Premier League during Mourinho's last full season as manager.

Chelsea also lost to Liverpool in the semi-final of the Champions League in 2006-7. "As players we owe it to the manager to win the league or the Champions League again,” said Cole.

"I've won things but, from day one when I first started playing football, I've always wanted to win. That feeling's never gone away. Having the manager back now from 2006 when he bought me, I still feel I owe him something.

"I didn't play as well as I could back then, and as well as I have for Chelsea since. I owe him a lot, personally. As a team, I hope we can go on and win many trophies. It's a big club and we need to win trophies. With the new players coming in, I think we can." Cole also outlined his desire to stay at Chelsea beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of this season.

"That's not down to me," he said. "I've got to keep training hard, playing well and keep my place in the team. We'll see what goes from there. I love Chelsea. I've been here seven years now and I'd love to stay here as long as I can.”

Cole also said that there has been little difference in Mourinho's style and demands since his first stint at the club, with winning trophies still all that matters. "He's always had one aim, one objective, and that's to win," said Cole.

"I think it doesn't matter what you've achieved, or what you've done in football, you've got to train well and give 100% for him. The one thing is he'll always give players a chance, if they're training and playing well.

"The boys are confident and happy he's back. You can see there's a new lease of life in some of the players, and that is good for us."

With Chelsea having bid for Wayne Rooney, his England team-mate, Cole was also asked whether he could imagine any player ever turning down the opportunity to work with the self-styled 'Special One'.

“For me, of course I jumped at the chance," said Cole. "He's a great manager. He proved how good he is with the number of trophies he's won with different teams.

"He's great at motivating players and keeping you on your toes, doing what you should be doing.

"It's a pleasure to play under him. For me, if he wanted me to come to Chelsea, it would be one thought in my mind. To come here to be under a great manager is an honour."

Chelsea play Indonesia on Thursday in the final match of their Asia tour before travelling to the United States to complete their pre-season.

"We're trying to benefit by getting fit ourselves, working together as a team because we have new players," said Cole. "It's more about us trying to come together as a group than the opponents.”